Editorial illustion

Description

Experience Level: Intermediate

This is a typical editorial illustration where you are given a story and asked to create an image to run alongside the story. In order to develop a successful visual solution, the best approach is to break down the process into steps:
1) Brainstorm and draw thumbnails (at least 16) developing different visual and conceptual approaches you might take in the illustration. Your thumbnails should show a wide variety of thinking and directions and should not look like variations on the same idea. This is a step where self-critiquing is not helpful; at this stage, any idea may be a good idea. At the end of this process you should have a variety of solutions to develop further. In class we will select at least 3 promising thumbnails to develop.
2) Research. You will need to gather photo reference and draw sketches to help you draw figures, objects, and surroundings in your illustration. Gather and sketch as many pictures and objects as possible, it is always better to have more to choose from.
3) Develop at least 3 presentation sketches. This is the stage where it is important to consider composition, relative sizes of visual elements, and how the image fits in the frame. Presentation sketches should be clear and understandable to a viewer. Normally you would present these to your art director or editor and discuss the final selection. You may need to find more reference materials at this stage.
4) Draw the final illustration.